mobile hotspot

T-Mobile has pulled forward the launch of its cheapest smartphone plan, slicing months off the timeline to offer $15 per month service. The launch - which also sees a new Metro by T-Mobile plan arriving - comes as many Americans find themselves working from home, furloughed, or unemployed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

AT&T has a launch date for its 5G network in the US, as well as confirming just how much the first 5G devices will cost - and how much you'll have to pay for data. The carrier is one of several currently locked into a race to light up 5G networks, promising significantly faster data speeds as well as a cut in latency and other improvements.

Verizon has unveiled the Inseego 5G hotspot, the first of its kind that will be offered by the wireless carrier. The hotspot will launch at Verizon in 2019, enabling customers to access the carrier's 5G mobile network for use with other mobile devices. The hotspot was introduced today during the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui today.

In August, Karma announced the upcoming launch of a privacy-minded mobile hotspot device that would, among other things, have a built-in VPN. Called Karma Black, that device will officially be available to purchase in January, the company has revealed. The hotspot will provide buyers with LTE data wrapped in a layer of security, helping protect data, block potentially harmful advertisements, and more.

AT&T is now exclusively offering the NETGEAR Nighthawk Mobile Hotspot Router, the first hotspot of its kind to support the carrier's 5G Evolution network. According to AT&T, its 5G Evolution features twice as fast speeds as standard LTE in some places (Indianapolis and Austin, specifically). Though this Netgear router is exclusive to AT&T at the moment, it won't remain that way.

AT&T has a new speedy mobile hotspot router, the AT&T Nighthawk, and while it may continue the carrier's "5G evolution" fudge, you might not mind so much when you see the speeds. The Netgear-made hotspot could deliver speeds up to twice as fast as regular LTE, AT&T claims, though there are some big provisos there too. Most importantly, it'll depend on where you are.

Karma, the company that offers mobile data plans and the hardware to go with them, has announced a new hotspot product designed specifically for those who care a lot about their privacy. Called Karma Black, this upcoming mobile hotspot will feature a built-in VPN to help protect its user's browsing habits, as well as some other features like blacklisting.

Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots today are no longer one-trick ponies. After all, a device that does one and only one thing seems like a waste of precious space. Getting in with the times, Verizon's new MiFi 7730L Jetpack is offering something in addition to high-speed Internet. Through the magic of the new USB-C standard, this pocket Wi-Fi can turn any USB-C storage device into a network storage. It can even charge your phone in a pinch.

GM is cutting the cost of its OnStar 4G LTE data plans, halving the price of data for its WiFi hotspot and connected apps services. The automaker began installing LTE modems in almost every car it sells in the US in 2014, and it's been a well-received move: Chevrolet, for instance, has sold more than 2.1 million such vehicles in the past two years.

Wi-Fi may be quite ubiquitous these days, some of them offered for free even, but it won't always be there, sometimes when you need it the most. Mobile hotspots have become the go to solution for Internet everywhere but, naturally, not all of them are created equal. AT&T is unveiling the Unite Explore, which, as the name may suggest, is primed for adventure. In addition to the rugged shell that frees you from worries, the hotspot is also AT&T's first to offer a range of security features that allay worries of a different sort.

FreedomPop has announced a new global hotspot that offers free mobile data in many places around the world, launching first for users in the United States and UK. The hotspot works in 25 countries, including France, Germany, Spain, and other European countries. If all goes as planned, though, FreedomPop will expand the global hotspot’s coverage to include countries in Asia and Latin America, bringing the total to more than 40 regions globally.

Karma, the makers of the Karma Go WiFi hotspot device, have just announced its second data plan since its latest model debuted this past summer. Now, in addition to the existing $14 per gigabyte Refuel plan, users can choose the new Neverstop option, which offers unlimited data for $50 per month. Just like the pay-as-you-go Refuel plan, Neverstop still relies on Sprint's network with a capped speed of 5 Mbps for downloads and uploads, so it won't suffice for Netflix binges, but with no usage limits or throttling, it could be a godsend in the right situation.